Hat-trick hero Barry in dreamland after late call-up

Mikey Barry clutches tightly his man of the match award and tries to make sense of the past 60 minutes.

The Ennis native, resident in Hong Kong for the past five years, flew into Shanghai on Saturday morning to partake in the challenge game serving as a preamble to the main event. Hurling aside, Barry was intent on shaking the hands of those responsible for ending the county’s 16-year wait for All-Ireland honours.

Not in his wildest dreams, however, could he have envisaged earning a late call-up to the top billing, featuring in a full-forward line alongside Joe Canning and John Mullane, pilfering three goals past Nicky Quaid in their 2012 All Stars’ 10-4 to 6-13 win over the 2013 crew and, just for good measure, picking up the man of the match accolade.